Jesse BrownCorporal, United States Marine CorpsSecretary of Veterans Affairs

The
Honorable Jesse Brown died at the age of 58 in his Warrenton, Virginia,
home on August 15, 2002. This decorated and disabled Vietnam veteran was
diagnosed several years ago with lower motor neuron syndrome, which is
similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Jesse Brown is survived by his wife Sylvia, mother Lucille, sister Dorothy,
grown children Carmen and Scott, and granddaughter.

Jesse Brown was my friend in the truest sense
of the word. He was also a friend and staunch advocate for all veterans,
taking an active interest in their rehabilitation, especially those wounded
in combat. For over 30 years, he worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans
through his career at the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), which culminated
in his tenure as Executive Director from 1989 to 1993 and then as Secretary
of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from 1993 to 1997. His tenacity
made him a driving force in improving the circumstances for generations
of veterans and caused the Wall Street Journal to feature him on its front
page under the banner "You Don't Mess with Jess'."

Jesse BrownSecretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
1993-1997

In 1963, Jesse enlisted in the Marine Corps.
While stationed in Vietnam in 1965, he suffered severe combat wounds on
patrol in Da Nang. His shattered right arm remained partially paralyzed,
despite a long and arduous process of rehabilitation in military and VA
hospitals. While Jessie was recovering at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital
near Chicago, a DAV National Service Officer assisted him in obtaining
VA benefits. Soon after, in 1967, Jesse embarked on a career with DAV.
As DAV's Executive Director, Jesse tirelessly lobbied for veteran's benefits
and programs before Congress, the White House, and federal bureaucracy.
His unflinching courage in pushing for congressional legislation firmly
established his reputation as a distinguished proponent of the health and
welfare issues of disabled veterans and their families. His passion for
the job was even recognized by Al Gore, who was soon to be the Vice President
of the United States and complimented Jesse's oratorical expertise at a
national DAV convention. Soon thereafter, in January 1993, then President
Clinton called upon Jesse to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs, directing
the second largest Cabinet agency in the federal government. I was very
honored when Jesse asked me to be his Chief of Staff and Counsel, and I
came out of retirement to serve him and the nation's veterans.

Jesse took an active interest in rehabilitation
of all veterans, especially the combat wounded. His consistent efforts
to improve health care delivery and expand benefits for veterans included
increasing VA research for veterans suffering from agent orange, radiation,
and mustard gas exposure. Jesse also augmented support for sufferers of
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He set the precedence for national
research that labored to identify the causes of various Persian Gulf war-related
ailments. Under Jesse's leadership, grants were approved for the expansion
of homeless veterans programs. Medical services and rehabilitation were
offered to improve the condition of disadvantaged, at-risk, and homeless
veterans with psychiatric and physical disorders, in addition to drug abuse.
These special programs made veterans' lives more self-sufficient by offering
transitional shelter, permanent housing, and employment, in what became
the VA's Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence (CWT/TR) Program.
Jesse also convened the first national summit meeting on homeless veterans.
Initiatives also were implemented for women veterans, to include counseling
for sexual trauma experienced while serving on active duty. New women's
clinics offered specialized exams, health education, and support groups,
providing women with the opportunities to make beneficial changes in their
lives.

Jesse decentralized management and health care
provisions by expanding satellite outpatient clinics in regions far from
large VA hospitals. Better access to treatment made it less costly and
time-consuming for low-income veterans, some of whom lived in rural areas
without reliable transportation. Jesse's emphasis on primary care fostered
a more positive attitude from veterans toward the VA. His managerial talent
instilled a new pride among VA employees as well, and his promotion of
"PUTTING VETERANS FIRST" still resonates within the agency.

This is just the "tip of the iceberg" when
it comes to Jesse's accomplishments and contributions. On Jesse's retirement
from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the DAV noted that he was "the
most effective veteran's advocate in recent memory." This compassionate,
driven, and intelligent man will be greatly missed by many. The developments
directed by his remarkable leadership and advocacy for over 30 years have
benefited all Americans, not just veterans. Jesse once said to me that
"life is hard by the yard but a cinch by the inch," and he certainly made
every inch count in his too-shortened life.
Jesse Brown was sworn in by President Clinton as the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs on January 22, 1993. Secretary Brown directs the federal
government's second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system
of health-care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries for
America's 26.5 million veterans.

Veterans
Department Photo

Under Secretary Brown's leadership, VA has
expanded benefits for veterans who were prisoners of war or were exposed
to Agent Orange, radiation or mustard gas, and has expanded treatment services
to those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Brown also directed
that VA undertake an aggressive research initiative to determine the causes
of the illnesses of Persian Gulf War veterans. He successfully worked for
the enactment of laws authorizing VA to pay compensation for these veterans'
undiagnosed illnesses and to provide them with priority health care for
illnesses they possibly incurred in the Gulf. To reduce a backlog of veterans
benefits claims, the Secretary formed a task force whose recommended changes
have led to improved technology, redesigned work processes and more staff
training.

Mr. Brown convened the first national summit
meeting on homeless veterans. Under his leadership, VA began awarding grants
to groups that aid the homeless and added homeless programs at medical
centers. Expanded services to women veterans include counseling for sexual
trauma suffered in the military, new health centers with specialized treatment
capabilities, and more full-time coordinators for women's care at VA medical
centers. Mr. Brown ordered sensitivity training for all VA employees as
part of his campaign of "Putting Veterans First." He guided VA's role in
the administration's health-care reform initiative and continues to press
for changes to make the VA medical system competitive in a changing health-care
environment. His priorities are to maintain the VA system as an independent
provider, to broaden veterans' access to the system and to offer a continuum
of comprehensive care.

Mr. Brown enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1963
and was wounded during combat in 1965 while patrolling in the Danang area
of Vietnam. Before coming to VA, he spent his professional career with
the Disabled American Veterans, serving as its executive director from
1989 to 1993. In that position he directed the DAV's Washington office,
supervising its national service, legislative, employment and volunteer
programs, which included leading the organization's advocacy efforts with
Congress and the Executive Branch on behalf of disabled veterans and their
families.

Born on March 27, 1944, in Detroit, Mr. Brown
spent his teen and early adult years in Chicago. An honors graduate of
Chicago City College, he also attended Roosevelt University in Chicago
and Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He is a member of The American
Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam
Veterans of America, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple
Heart, Polish Legion of American Veterans, USA, Jewish War Veterans and
The Retired Enlisted Association.

During five years as Secretary
of Veterans Affairs in the Cabinet of President Bill Clinton, the late
Jesse Brown earned the love and respect of his fellow veterans across the
United States. This well-deserved esteem made Mr. Brown uniquely qualified
for his role as the first Executive Director of the Disabled Veterans'
LIFE Memorial Foundation.

While heading the second largest department
in the federal government, Mr. Brown worked day and night to improve the
VA's delivery of health care and benefits to those who served in our nation's
armed forces. In this position, he gained extensive background in business,
healthcare and technology. With nearly a quarter million employees working
at more than 1,000 facilities across America, the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) had an annual budget of $40 billion during Mr. Brown's tenure.
His great source of pride, however, was his drive to make the VA a customer-oriented
enterprise that "puts veterans first." Those familiar with the VA's history
will understand the magnitude of this achievement.

In naming Mr. Brown to his Cabinet, President
Clinton chose the Executive Director of one of the nation's largest, most
successful charities - the million-member Disabled American Veterans. Mr.
Brown devoted a quarter of a century of his life to serving his fellow
veterans as a National Service Officer with the DAV, rising rapidly through
the organization's ranks. With an annual budget exceeding $100 million,
the DAV offers crucial services from 70 offices across the United States.
As Executive Director at the DAV's National Service and Legislative Headquarters
in Washington, Mr. Brown became prominent in the policy-making circles
of our nation's capital. His lobbying on behalf of America's veterans before
Congress, the White House and the federal bureaucracy earned him a reputation
as a remarkably effective advocate.

Mr. Brown joined the DAV's professional staff
after a lengthy recuperation from wounds suffered in combat while serving
as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam. During his 25 years with the DAV, he established
an unchallenged reputation as the nation's foremost expert on veterans'
benefits and programs.

Following his years in the President's Cabinet,
Mr. Brown moved vigorously into the business world. He formed Brown and
Associates, a world wide consulting firm. His expertise figured prominently
in planning and marketing initiatives at a broad variety of companies domestically
and internationally.

An honors graduate of Chicago City College,
Mr. Brown also studied at Roosevelt University in Chicago and Catholic
University in Washington, D.C. He also joined noted philanthropist Mrs.
Lois Pope and the DAV's Art Wilson in their drive for build a memorial
honoring disabled veterans. Up to his death in the summer of 2002, Jesse
remained highly engaged in this initiative, even as Lou Gehrig's Disease
robbed him of his ability to move and, toward the end, to communicate.

Mr. Brown's determined spirit remains with
the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation. No one could ever extinguish
a flame so bright!

Jesse Brown was buried in Section 30 of Arlington
National Cemetery.
Posted: 31 August 2003 Updated: 24 November 2005 Updated:
23 April 2006